DAVID BIANCULLI

Founder / Editor

ERIC GOULD

Associate Editor

LINDA DONOVAN

Assistant Editor

Contributors

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MIKE HUGHES

KIM AKASS

MONIQUE NAZARETH

ROGER CATLIN

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TOM BRINKMOELLER

GERALD JORDAN

NOEL HOLSTON

 
 
2014
May
19
 
 
In tonight’s show, one of the patented split-screen 24 scenes has Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) speaking on the phone with President Heller (William Devane), asking for his trust even though the entire CIA is closing in on Jack as a most-wanted fugitive. "I’ve never lied to you, and I’ve always told you the truth," Jack tells him redundantly.
 
 
 
  
 
 
2014
May
19
 
 
SERIES FINALE: I’ve really enjoyed this charming little Syfy series, which displays more wit than most, while still managing to create some touching characters and relationships. The show ends tonight with a finale that has each of the Warehouse 13 characters using a sort of high-tech séance to confront their key moments from their time at the Warehouse – moments that are newly presented as well as repeated, and which include such fanciful elements as a passel of dancing stage
 
 
 
  
 
 
2014
May
19
 
 
Last week’s double helping of Louie ended with “Elevator, Part 1,” a two-story episode that started with one of Louie’s daughter insisting that, at that moment, her life was but a dream, and ended with Louie (Louis CK) helping an elderly resident of his apartment building, a woman played with gusto by guest star Ellen Burstyn, who had gotten stuck in an elevator. Tonight’s new half-hour installments of Louie are called “Elevator, Part 2” and “Eleva
 
 
 
  
 
 
2014
May
19
 
 
SPECIAL: This prime-time variety special wasn’t available for preview, but I wish it well. The former Saturday Night Live regular takes her talent to prime time, along with some old SNL buddies and other game guests, such as Sean Hayes and Kristen Bell. If it draws enough viewers, NBC and Rudolph hope to make this a recurring series of specials, which would be quite welcome for those of us who were raised on variety shows and still miss the format. Good luck, Maya.
 
 
 
  
 
 
2014
May
19
 
 
Presenting 10 takeaways from Sunday's Mad Men’s episode, “The Strategy.” Or maybe this time they should be called “takeouts,” in deference to a Mad Men episode that took its cue from a campaign to woo Burger Chef as a client...
 
 
 
  
 
 
2014
May
18
 
 
SEASON FINALE: A lot happened in last week’s episode, as various hidden motives and agendas came to light. Louis Canning (Michael J. Fox) was revealed as the fox in the henhouse, trying to poison his own law firm at the roots. Eli Gold (Alan Cumming) found out about the actual status of the marriage of convenience between Peter (Chris Noth) and Alicia (Julianna Margulies). And at the startup law firm of Florrick Agos, there are problems too – while at Alicia’s home, both her mo
 
 
 
  
 
 
2014
May
18
 
 
Last week, Tyrion (Peter Dinklage) was betrayed by his lover, and rejected the secrecy deal for clemency by demanding trial by combat. And whom will he be forced to fight? I’m guessing this particular duel will be all in the family – as in brother against brother.  
 
 
 
  
 
 
2014
May
18
 
 
Last week’s Mad Men had some really arresting scenes in its freewheeling story line, including a shocking scene involving deluded self-mutilation. (What was in the box that was given as a gift to Elisabeth Moss’s Peggy? Yikes.) But there also was another impulsive act in last week’s show: a steamy Ménage a trois, featuring Don (Jon Hamm), his wife Megan (Jessica Paré), and Megan’s actress friend Amy (Jenny Wade from Reaper). Everyone seemed to regret it the
 
 
 
  
 
 
2014
May
18
 
 
Tonight’s episode features a séance featuring Vanessa (Eva Green), and, because of Green’s acting rather than any special effects, it’s one of the scariest and most effective séance scenes I’ve ever seen. Also this week: Billie Piper, from Secret Diary of a Call Girl and Doctor Who, is introduced as a poor Irish immigrant with a grim medical prognosis.
 
 
 
  
 
 
2014
May
18
 
 
This 1979 movie is now 35 years old – but my, is it still effective, timely and memorable. Peter Sellers, in one of his most restrained yet very best roles, plays a simple-minded gardener who, by circumstance and misunderstanding, becomes embraced as a very wise and influential man. Shirley MacLaine co-stars, Hal Ashby directs, and Jerzy Kosinski adapts his own novel. If you’ve never seen Being There, please take this opportunity.